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Animal Research Facilities 2024 Schedule

    Pre-Conference Events Sunday Sept 29th
    Registration Sign-in/Continental Breakfast for Fundamentals Course

    Registration for the Fundamentals Course attendees.

    7:30 AM - 8:00AM
    Fundamentals of Planning and Design of Animal Research Facilities
    • Jeffrey R Zynda, LEED-AP, BD+C | PerkinsWill
    • Hunter Nezat, AIA, CDT, LEED AP | Perkins&Will
    • Stephen Lahti, PE, LEED AP BD+C | R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, LLP

    What you will learn:
    Participants will come away with a basic understanding of the terminology, concepts, processes, standards, numbers, types of equipment, and furniture (as applicable) involved in the planning and design of animal research labs and support space including related mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. 

    Who should attend:
    This course is designed for those involved in the planning, design, construction, or operation of animal research laboratories including project managers, architects, facility engineers, construction engineers, facility managers, facility planners, biosafety professionals, EH&S personnel, veterinarians, and researchers employed at colleges and universities, medical facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, A/E/C firms, government health centers, and public health labs.

    Space is limited and enrollment is subject to approval.

    Cost:
    $1,300 Fundamentals Course only
    $1,100 with registration to the two-day conference immediately following
    (Fees include course materials, continental breakfast refreshment breaks, and lunch)

    8:00AM - 4:30PM
    Speaker Orientation Meeting & Dinner

    This meeting is intended for presenters only, and is a critical part of the Tradeline program. Your group will be given last minute information on the audience and their special questions as well as project information relative to this topic. Also covered will be conference protocol and audio-visual equipment for presenters, as well as details on the conference schedule. Speakers will receive a full set of conference materials at this time.

    Advanced RSVP Required

    5:45PM - 7:30PM
    Hosted Welcome Reception (Guests Welcome)

    A hosted beer and wine bar along with light snacks will be served.

    Attendees may sign-in and pick up their registration materials here, or the next morning at the conference ballroom foyer.

    Guests welcome.

    7:30PM - 8:30PM
    Monday, Sept 30th
    Registration Sign-in/Continental Breakfast
    8:00AM - 8:30AM
    Exhibit Booths Open
    8:00AM - 5:45PM
    Plenary Sessions 8:30AM - 9:30AM
    Maximizing “Plan B”: Bridging the gap to new animal facilities
    • Ronald P. Wilson, V.M.D., M.S., DACLAM | Penn State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
    • Duncan H McIlvaine, AIA, NCARB | Penn State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

    Demand for animal space is spiking now. When “new building” dreams are put on hold, what quick-turnaround options can deliver the capacity that expanding programs need? Ron Wilson and Duncan McIlvaine illustrate opportunities, decision making criteria, and tradeoffs for densification and capacity increase strategies at Penn State College of Medicine. They examine cascading impacts to consider, short-term and long-term solutions, pain points, and what is working. They detail space conversions, equipment and infrastructure requirements, design and operating considerations, and development of a strategic renovation plan.

    8:40AM - 9:05AM
    Cage wash staffing benchmarks: How does your operation stack up?
    • Nirah Shomer, DVM PhD DACLAM | Shomer Consulting Services
    • Bruce W. Kennedy, MS RLATG CMAR CPIA EdD | UC Santa Cruz IACUC Administrator

    How many cage wash staff are needed to support an animal facility with a given census?  What equipment upgrades and operational changes were perceived to most improve injury rates, staff retention, and washing capacity to support expanding institutional rodent census? Nirah Shomer and Bruce Kennedy present survey results and metrics on the current state of cage wash facilities including data on staffing numbers and models, workload, types and numbers of washing equipment, the biggest bottlenecks and barriers to smooth operations, and efficiency-minded upgrade and renovation trends from the last five years. Don’t miss this opportunity to benchmark your cagewash operations against industry leaders.

    9:05AM - 9:30AM
    Refreshment Break 9:35AM - 9:55AM
    Plenary Sessions 9:55AM - 10:50AM
    Strategies for boosting workforce engagement, job satisfaction, and productivity in the lean vivarium
    • Gerry Cronin | Massachusetts General Hospital
    • Steven LaMacchia | Massachusetts General Hospital

    Lean vivarium operations depend on engaged, enthusiastic, and efficiency-minded employees -- and many organizations took a big hit on that front during the pandemic. Here you’ll see how Massachusetts General Hospital is bouncing back, building morale, and returning to the business of improving vivarium space use and efficient workflows. Gerry Cronin and Steven LaMacchia set out findings from MGH and the Vivarium Operational Excellence Network for turning the tedium of husbandry into fun team-based activities, engaging front-line workers in daily problem solving, and navigating a multi-generational workforce. They chart the improvements over the last three years in terms of job satisfaction, productivity, and process improvement.

    9:55AM - 10:20AM
    High-ROI facility upgrades for staff wellbeing, research quality, and retention
    • Sally Thompson-Iritani, DVM, PhD | University of Washington

    Vivarium upgrades aimed at improving employee engagement and wellbeing don’t have to break the bank; moderate investments in space, design, and infrastructure can yield big impacts. Sally Thompson-Iritani chronicles how UW and other organizations have worked to support “compassionate resiliency” in vivarium space interventions emphasizing the human wellbeing impacts on research quality and worker retention. She illustrates steps taken to ease mental fatigue, create spaces for collaboration and program development, and improve the physical environment’s ability to respond to the highs and lows of the human/animal bond. She scopes out what’s required in terms of time, effort, and budget.

    10:25AM - 10:50AM
    Refreshment Break 10:55AM - 11:10AM
    Concurrent Sessions 11:10AM - 12:05PM
    Hosted Lunch 12:05PM - 1:05PM
    Lunch Hosted by Strobic Air Technologies

    Lunch hosted by Strobic Air Technologies

    Concurrent Sessions 1:10PM - 2:05PM
    Refreshment Break 2:05PM - 2:20PM
    Concurrent Sessions 2:20PM - 3:15PM
    Refreshment Break 3:15PM - 3:45PM
    Plenary Sessions 3:45PM - 4:40PM
    LED lighting for vivaria: Should you make the switch?
    • Norman K Burdzel | Jackson Laboratory
    • Karen Murphy, LC IALD LEED AP | HDR

    The Jackson Laboratory made the decision to adopt LED lighting in their Ellsworth barrier facility during the final phases of construction. Here you’ll see what had changed from initial project conception to drive that decision, and key considerations for design, construction, implementation, and validation going forward. Norm Burdzel and Karen Murphy examine how to evaluate LED technology’s impact on animal welfare, equipment selection and control strategy considerations, and what’s to be gained in terms of life cycle cost savings and energy efficiency.

    3:45PM - 4:10PM
    Next-generation multispecies NHP research complex raises the bar for welfare, capacity, efficiency
    • Blake Harrington | Texas Biomedical Research Institute
    • Mike Merz | Texas Biomedical Research Institute

    The newest NHP breeding/holding complex at Texas Biomedical Research Institute exemplifies the latest solutions for regulatory compliance, animal and worker welfare, space utilization, flexibility and operating efficiencies. Mike Merz and Blake Harrington discuss the highly collaborative undertaking that tapped the expertise of national project professionals, as well as the over 70 years of NHP experience on this Texas research campus. How did big issues such as the national shortage of animal models in testing diagnostics, therapies and vaccines translate into scope and budget decisions – all while new opportunities for innovation were being identified? They profile cutting-edge advances in enrichment and resiliency, as well as the ability to partner with outside organizations for research programs and operations funding.

    4:15PM - 4:45PM
    Reception 4:45PM - 5:45PM
    Reception Hosted by Siemens (Guests Welcome)

    Reception hosted by Siemens

    (Guests welcome)

    4:45PM - 5:45PM
    Tuesday, Oct 1st
    Exhibit Booths Open
    7:15AM - 3:40PM
    Hosted Breakfast

    Courtesy of Tradeline

    7:15AM - 8:00AM
    Concurrent Sessions 8:05AM - 9:00AM
    Refreshment Break 9:00AM - 9:15AM
    Plenary Sessions 9:15AM - 10:10AM
    Resiliency put to the test: Facility design, equipment, and preparedness findings
    • Mary T Spencer, BS, RLATg | Brigham and Women's Hospital
    • Renee L Thompson, BS, RLATg | Brigham and Women's Hospital

    In 2023 Brigham and Women’s Hospital Center for Comparative Medicine experienced the most severe flooding events in the program’s history, prompting an immediate, multifaceted response to protect animals, staff, and the future of critical research endeavors. Renee Thompson and Mary Spencer deliver lessons learned and recommendations that will equip other organizations to prevent, prepare, mitigate, and respond efficiently to emergencies. They identify critical facility design elements that saved the day, and the equipment, storage, and swing space needs to plan for. They detail innovative processes, operational and administrative measures to put in place for disaster management and research impact mitigation.

    9:15AM - 9:40AM
    Findings on ABSL-3 facility utilization and program adaptability
    • Hannah Payne Walker, MPH, LATg | University of Georgia Animal Health Research Center

    Repurposing underutilized ABSL-3 space is an attractive option for creating industry partnerships and increasing revenue, but there are easily overlooked facility, equipment, and operating requirements that will determine success. Hannah Walker sets out University of Georgia’s lessons learned on real-world facility adaptability from retrofitting an ABSL-3 lab for industry use including findings on construction, utilities, sample handling, and space allocations for anterooms and showers. She illustrates what an all-in cost/benefit analysis looks like factoring in capital and operating costs, and when this type of initiative actually makes sense for all stakeholders.

    9:45AM - 10:10AM
    Refreshment Break 10:10AM - 10:35AM
    Concurrent Sessions 10:35AM - 11:30AM
    Refreshment Break 11:30AM - 11:45AM
    Concurrent Sessions 11:45AM - 12:40PM
    Hosted Lunch 12:40PM - 1:40PM
    Concurrent Sessions 1:45PM - 2:40PM
    Refreshment Break 2:40PM - 2:55PM
    Concluding Session 2:55PM - 3:40PM
    Town Hall Knowledge Roundup
    • Derek Westfall | Tradeline, Inc.
    • Rohit Saxena | Page
    • Rachel Nelan, AIA, LEED AP | Flad Architects

    This end-of-day session is where key ideas, new developments, and findings that have been revealed over the course of the entire two-day conference (including sessions you may have missed) get clarified, expanded upon, and affirmed or debated. This is also the opportunity to get answers from industry leaders and the entire audience to specific questions on key and challenging issues.  

    2:55PM - 3:40PM
    Conference Adjourns 3:40PM